The World Heritage property Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas), located in a desert region, provides evidence of ancient human occupation dating back to the Neolithic period. The area has been continuously inhabited, showcasing remnants of various prehistoric cultures, particularly from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Al Ain was a key crossroads for ancient trade routes connecting Oman, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf, and Mesopotamia. The World Heritage property includes diverse elements such as circular stone tombs, settlements, wells, aflaj irrigation systems, oases, and mudbrick constructions used for defense, domestic, and economic purposes. This expertise in construction and water management supported agricultural development for over five millennia. The serial property meets UNESCO criteria (iii), (iv), and (v) for its exceptional testimony to prehistoric cultures, illustrating human development during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and demonstrating sustainable adaptation to desert environments. The aflaj system, introduced in the 1st millennium BC, exemplifies advanced water management in arid regions. The oases of Al Ain highlight the capacity of early civilizations to create a fertile environment in the desert, ensuring sustainable water resource exploitation. These factors together underscore Al Ain's significant cultural heritage and its long-standing relationship with the desert environment. The Cultural Sites of Al Ain were inscribed into the World Heritage List in 2011. 

IHM works closely with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi on a examplary attribute mapping for three sites within two components of the World Heritage property. The report follows a capacity building project phase with an on-site visit with workshops and field attribute mapping.